Monday, August 20, 2012

Adjusting to the New Normal

A few weeks ago I submitted a blog entry to the MD Anderson Cancer Center blog, Cancerwise. The entry was published today, the gist being how I've approached adjusting to loss and my new normal post cancer and cancer treatment. A link to that entry follows:

My brother in-law was just diagnosed with tonsil cancer, stage 4. We are all very nervous and afraid. He will have a very difficult year ahead. I am reading your blog so that I can learn how I may be able to help him and my sister during this difficult time. Do you have any suggestions for me? What are the right things to say to someone who is going through this difficult treatment? What should I avoid saying?

Hi Annie - I have had no evidence of disease for 6 plus years. My treatment has left me a changed person... good and bad. This cancer is so unique to each individual; some people are drastically impacted others aren't. Show support, hold his hand, don't tell him everything will be okay, visit him in the hospital or while he is recovering and play cards or listen to music. Those are things that helped me. - Ed

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Blog Introduction

I began this blog in early May 2007. The earliest three entries provide good foundation reading on my situation, where it started, my disabilities, etc. These three earliest entries are worth reading before jumping into the more recent day-to-day thoughts and blog entries. You can get to these three entries easily via the Blog Archive box below.

My favorite blog entry is titled "December 13 2007." You guessed it, you can find it filed in the December 2007 blog index below.